Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-06

the pet OF the public, the plaything oil
the newspapers, and the object Of keen
and bitter envy.
The most notable sudience that ever
assembled in New York theatre greeted
the American actress. EVERYBODY was
there, from legal hghts Ike Roscoe
Conkling and Joseph Choate to the
millonaires Astors, Rockefellers, ard
Gilseys. All the leaders of society,
from Mrs. Belmont and Mrs. Paran
Stevens down to the society men who
lead cotilons and lend sombreness and
gloom TO the various hunt clubs in the
neighborhood. we're on hand. The clubs
were literally deserted, while their crack
members did homage at Mrs. Potter's
shrine. Most of the ladies we're in eve
ning dress. and the effect of the low dresses
through the body of the house was en-
livening and brilliant.
Mrs. Potter's play was n strange and
unearthlv adaptation from the French
which consisted very largely of Mr.
Kyrle Bellew. the long-haired and eff
terminated actor. and n Miss Monk, who
had baritone voice cavernous mouth,
and an air Of settled remorse. She
spent the whole evening fainting away,
moaning. muttering curses on the head
Of everybody who Glanced to show up,
and making an exceedingly unpleasant
person Of herself throughout. Mr..
Bc'lew came in in the first act and fell
upona sofa near the footlights. apparently
in an agony Of pain and anguish. He
wore 2 pair of natty check trousers and
voluminous shirt. the left side of which
was bespattorcd by an enormous daub
Of red pant. This was intended TO
represent blood. and there was 50 much
OF Il Immediately over Mr. Bellows
heart that IL seemed as though that actor
must have bed for week. It was a de-
ciGodlv rouulsive spectacle. A surgeon
came I'm. and yankng MIR. Bellows shirt
open az thc bosom 10 a really alarming
extent. displayed a dashing bit Of criss-
cross work in court plaster over the
actors hcart. seid tie wound amounted
to nothing. gave thc young man. who
was "a total stranger 20 him, I. 800 francs.
and Withdrew. This little episode start I'd
Mr. Below ON hisprosperous career, and
ne took ND Tie study Of sculpture Even
tually he becomes famous and mnrries
Mrs Potter. Tie plays the character
OF an c6sminate sculptor in 2 purely
feminine wav. lie cries when the
woman whom he loves goes on and mar
ria- another mau. and he clasps his hand
IT,. Ga. Ir.,,
his emotions are too much for him
Mrs. Potter also wecps copiously al
through the piece, and the only really
manly pcremago on the stage is the
mother She is "a u4ilcr The audience
laughed az her Monday night but that
did not Gem to diecour2ge her in the
least. There were numerous de'ths in
the play end It va' throughout silly and
improbable Nobody knows exactly
Why Yrs Potter chose this for her open
ing performance in Now York
THE ro~sor9i efforts Of the famous
American society woman were literally
rewarded by applause She Is by no
nous rr.at actress. hut she does not
caenj u1 t.oc is no doubt that she
vii. one Cav win prominent place on
the S'.e bv reason o. her at alone
-lc ha, beauty intelligence. and grace.
Her f.oc j. far more attractive than that
of 'rs. 'aua'rv though she has not tine
robust au. superb figure Cd the English
woman. THE Lau-rv is on the vane
lua ora'.v. end 'ir, Pottcr's success
IS t.c t.at.iMcil % her hopes. The